Kerala Science Body Demands Halt to Mission Samudra Over Livelihood Fears

UPDATE - follow-up to KSSP warns Mission Samudra threatens traditional fishing livelihoods: The Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad has pressed the State government to review Mission Samudra and the Maritime Board Amendment Bill, cautioning that the plans endanger artisanal fishing jobs, push corporate control over shores, and damage delicate sea environments.

Project Plans

The initiative aims to turn Keralam into a port-focused trade hub using private investment, mirroring the Central government's Blue Economy strategy. Plans cover eighteen small ports, better links to Vizhinjam, Kochi, and Vallarpadam, plus ship building, fixing, and breaking yards. Other proposals involve sea tourism, a mineral mining corridor for black sand, and turning Alappuzha into a marine economy center.

Board Powers

The parishad warned that changes to the law would give the Maritime Board massive authority, such as setting up a land pool, a Port Area Development Authority, and a police-style enforcement wing. Leaders argued that powers to buy company shares and rent out land for long periods could hand local sea resources over to private firms.

Demands

The organisation noted that beaches serve as main workplaces for workers across two hundred twenty marine fishing villages, warning the bill threatens customary use of shores for landing fish, selling catches, keeping boats and nets, and drying catches. The group faulted the scheme for ignoring the stability of the annual six lakh tonne fish yield and skipping green impact studies for big coastal builds.

Context

Fisherfolk communities often face displacement risks from large-scale industrial port projects along India's peninsular coastline. Environmental groups routinely push for participatory mapping and local body approval to balance commercial growth with traditional community rights.